Railway journal lubricator



June 30, 1953 J. J. HENNESSY 2,643,919

RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 39, 1953 J. J. HENNESSY 2,643,919

RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed Oct. 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 30, 1953 J. J. HENNESSY 2,643,919

RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 7 Filed 00t- 9, 1950 Sheets-Sheet 5 fare/172."

Patented June 30, 1953 RAILWAY JOURNAL LUBRICATOR James J. Hennessy, Chambersburg, Padassignor to Hennessy Lubricator Company, Inc., Chambersburg, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application October 9, 1950, Serial No. 189,231

15 Claims. 1

The invention relates to lubricators for railway axle journals assembled with bearings and boxes of the American Association of Railroads type which assemblies provide for movement of the journal crosswise of the box during normal operation of the vehicle, such movement usually from one-fourth inch to three-fourths inch, may be utilized to operate a pump for elevating fluid lubricant from the sump, formed by the lower portion of the box, to the journal. The invention embodies a lubricant distributor having an extended surface for application to the journal surface, one or more arms movable on the distributor, one or more pumps mounted on the distributor and having relatively movable parts connected to the distributor and to the arm or arms, respectively, structure for supporting the distributor from the bottom wall of a box mounted upon the journal, and elements forming a part of or associated with the distributor for movement by the journal relative to the box for one or more collapsible pumps and pump operating members suspended from the distributor and a collapsible support structure for the distributor and the parts carried thereby.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating selected embodiments of the invention,

Figure l is a vertical, longitudinal section through a journal box mounted upon an axle journal anda lubricator assembled therewith.

Figure "2 is an end view of the lubricator with an adjacent portion of the box shown in crossed section.

Figure 3 is a transverse, vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed section taken on the L-G of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view corresponding generally to Figure 1, but showing the lubricator in the position assumed during insertion or removal from its operating position in the box.

Figures 6, '7, and 8' correspond generally to Figures 1, 2, and 3, but illustrate another form of the invention.

In the structure shown in Figures 1-5, the j ournal box I is mounted by a wedge 2 and a bearing 3 upon a journal 4 in the usual manner. Welded line or otherwise secured to the box bottom wall 5 is a holding piece 6 elongated lengthwise of the box and provided with a transverse shallow channel 1 seating coil springs 8, which yieldingly support 'an arcuate plate 9 forming the bottom of a distributor unit which includes a pad In of felt or woven fabric arranged to be thrust against the journal by springs 8.

Preferably, plate 9 is formed of a plurality of sections arranged end to end and hinged to accommodate tilting of the sections on each other as the device is inserted into the box and removed therefrom (see Figure 5) during which operation the device must pass through the retracted angu face of the journal but operating rods l I extend the full length of the journal bearing-supporting surface with their outer ends opposing the inner face l3a of the journal collar I3 and their inner ends opposing the fillet H! at the other end of the journal bearing-supporting surface. Accordingly, when the journal plays transversely of the box, rods II will move therewith and relative to the distributor, which is held against movement lengthwise of the box by its supporting springs 8 seated in channel 1 secured to the box bottom wall.

Depending from plate 9 are ears l5. Arms l6 extending longitudinally of the device, are pivoted by pins i? to ears [5. Depending from rods II are fingers l8, the lower ends of which slidably engage lever-like arms I6. If rods II are reciprocated 'by the transverse play of the journal in the box, fingers 18 cause arms IE to fulcrum about pins ll between the solid and broken line positions shown in Figure 1.

Near each end-of the device is a collapsible pump comprising a tube [9 of flexible material, the upper end of which is provided with a cap 28 secured to distributor plate 9 and the lower end of which is attached to a perforated cup 2|. A spring 22 thrusts each cap 28 and cup 2| apart. Intake valves 23 and outlet valves 24 at the lower and upper ends respectively of the pump open to the sump in the lower portion of the journal box and to'passages 25 in the distributor pad. Flexible elements 26 connect cups. 2] to the end portions of arms I6.

Accordingly, the swinging of arms I 5 about their pivots as described above, results in the alternate compression and expansion of the pump chambers so that lubricant is lifted from the bottom of the box to the distributor pad. The details of the pump structure are further described and claimed in application Serial No. 131,579 filed by the present inventor, December 7, 1949.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figures B, I and 8, the journal, bearings, wedge and box parts, and the holding piece 30, spring seating channels 3! and springs 32 all are as described above but the distributor plate 33 and pad 34 extend the full length of the journal bearing-supporting surface, being provided with liners 35 of brass or its equivalent at the distributor ends for contact with the journal collar and fillet.

A downwardly concaved yoke-like fulcrum member 36 is secured to each side of plate 33 intermediate its ends. Extending lengthwise of the device beneath each yoke 3G is a lever-like arm 3! having an upstanding convex projection 37a seating in the concavity of member 35. Secured to the underside of each arm 31 is a cap 38 resting upon the adjacent supporting spring 32.

Movement of the journal and the distributor crosswise of the box, i. e., axially of the journal, shifts fulcrum members 36 and the adjacent p01- tions of arms 31 longitudinally of the box causing them to tilt, about the lower ends of spring 32, between the solid line and broken line positions shown in Figure 6.

Pumps til at each end of the device correspond to the pumps previously described and are similarly connected to the distributor and to the ends of operating arms 3?. As arms 3? are rocked between the solid line and broken line position shown in Figure 6 pumps M! are actuated to lift lubricant in the lower portion of the box to the distributor.

In both the structures described, the pumps and the pump operating parts are all carried by the distributor which is, in turn, supported from the box bottom wall intermediate the ends of the distributor, thus simplifying the lubricator structure and facilitatingits insertion into the box and its removal from the box without necessitating the jacking-up of the box, to remove the journal bearing wedges, and then lowering the box onto the bearing to provide room for the insertion and removal of the lubricator as has been required with some devices of this nature, used previously.

The details of the structure may be varied substantially otherwise than as shown, and the exclusive use of other forms of the invention coming within the spirit of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is: t

1. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant distributor arranged for application to the surface of a journal'to be lubricated, a member movably mounted on said distributor, a pump comprising parts movable relative to each other to actuate the pump, one of which parts is secured to said distributor and the other of which is se' cured to said member, structure for supporting said distributor, and an operating element on the distributor arranged for engagement with the journal for moving said movable member on the distributor. 2. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant distributor arranged for application to the surface of a journal to be lubr1cated, an arm pivoted to said distributor, a pump having parts movable relatively to each other to actuate the pump, one of which parts is secured to said distributor and the other of which parts is secured to said arm at a point on the latter spaced from its pivot, structure for supporting said distributor, and elements mounted on the distributor and engageable by the journal and movable relative to the distributor to rock said arm about its pivot.

3. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant distributor arranged for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated, an arm pivoted to said distributor, a ump comprising a body of flexible material forming a collapsible chamber with spaced ends, inlet and outlet check valves in said ends respectively, one end of said chamber being connected to said arm at a point on the latter spaced from the pivot and the other of said ends being connected to said distributor, structure for supporting all of the above-mentioned parts, elements associated with said distributor and arranged to engage the journal and connected with said arm to tilt the latter about its pivot and collapse said pump chamber, and means for expanding said chamber when said elements are not so engaged.

4. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a distributor shaped for the application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated, spring structure connected to said lubricator and extending downwardly therefrom to support the lubricator, pump structure depending from the lubricator and comprising a collapsible chamber with a spring normally expanding the chamber, there being an intake valve at the lower end of the chamber, an outlet valve at the upper end of the chamber, a passageway for lubricant from said outlet valve to said distributor, a member movably mounted on the distributor and connected to the lower end of the pump, and means for moving said member on the distributor to shift the member to collapse the pump against its spring.

5. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a distributor shaped for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated, a lever pivoted to the side of said distributor, a pump including relatively movable ends, one of which is connected to said distributor and the other of which is connected to said lever, and a member associated with said distributor and lever with portions disposed to engage journal elements facing lengthwise of the distributor to be moved relative to the distributor, to move said arm and operate said pump.

6. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a distributor shaped for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated, arms at the sides of the distributor and pivoted thereto and extending lengthwise of the distributor, a support carried by the adjacent ends of said arms spaced from their pivots, a pump mounted on said support and connected to said distributor, and an element on said distributor movable with the journal to which the distributor is applied to tilt said arms and operate said pump.

'7. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a distributor having a surface shaped for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated, arms extending lengthwise of the distributor but inclined to said surface and spaced transversely of the distributor and pivoted intermediate their ends to the distributor, a collapsible pump chamber near each end of the distributor with one end attached to the adjacent ends of said arms and the other end attached to the distributor, a passage for lubricant from said chamber through the distributor, and elements extending lengthwise of said distributor and projecting therefrom to engage a collar and fillet at the ends of the journal and movable lengthwise of the distributor and contacting said arms to move their ends vertically of the distributor to actuate said pumps.

8. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a distributor shaped for application to the surface of the journal to be lubricated, arms at the sides of the distributor and pivoted thereto and extending lengthwise of the distributor, a yokelike device carried by the ends of said arms spaced from their arm pivots, a pump mounted on said device and connected to said distributor, structure for supporting said distributor and holding the distributor, arms and device against substantial movement as a unit, members slidable longitudinally on said distributor near opposite sides thereof and projecting therefrom to engage a collar on the journal, and elements on said members slidably engaging said arms to move them about their pivots and operate said pump.

9. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant distributor shaped for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated and arranged to engage the journal to cause the distributor to move with the journal crosswise of the box, an arm pivoted to said distributor and movable about its pivot by the distributor movement, and a lubricant pump associated with said distributor and arm and operated by movement of said arm to supply lubricant surrounding the lower portion of the pump to the distributor.

10. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant distributor shaped for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated and arranged to engage the journal collar to cause the distributor to move with the journal crosswise of the box, an arm pivoted on said distributor, a member attached to said arm beneath its pivot and extending therefrom to support the distributor upon a journal box mounted on the journal, said support member being arranged to tilt about its end spaced from said arm, a pump with relatively movable operating parts connected to said arm and to said distributor, respectively, and actuated by the tilting of said support member as said distributor moves lengthwise relative to end of said support spaced from the distributor.

11. -In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant distributor shaped for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated and arranged to engage the journal collar to cause the distributor to move with the journal crosswise of the box, an arm pivoted on said distributor and having a downwardly facing spring cap, an upright coil spring with its lower end disposed to be seated upon a box mounted on the journal and its upper end received in said cap, said spring being flexible transversely of its axis, a pump with relatively movable operating parts connected to said arm and to said distributor, respectively, and provided with inlet and outlet check valves spaced vertically of the distributor I and actuated by the tilting of said spring relative to its lower end as said distributor moves lengthwise with the journal crosswise of the box.

12. In a railway axle journal lubricator, a lubricant distributor arranged for application to the surface of a journal to be lubricated and including ends disposed to engage the end portions of the journal to cause the distributor to move with the journal crosswise of a box mounted thereon, levers at the sides of said distributor extending longitudinally thereof and fulcrumed on the distributor to oscillate aboutaxesextending transversely of the distributor intermediate its ends, a lubricant pump at each end of the distributor with their upper ends operatively connected to the distributor, and connections between the ends of said levers and the lower ends of said pump to actuate the latter as the journal moves axially relative to the box.

13. In combination, a railway axle journal having a collar at one end, a box mounted thereon, an elongated wide, relatively shallow pad-like lubricant distributor applied to the lower por tion of the journal, an arm pivoted to the underside of the distributor, a pump suspended from the distributor and including relatively movable operating parts, one connected to the distributor and one connected to said arm, there being check valve connections between the pump and the sump formed by the box and between the pump and the distributor, elements engaged by the journal collar for movement lengthwise of the box to tilt said arm to actuate the pump, and spring structure supporting the distributor and parts mounted thereon from the bottom of the box.

14. In combination, a railway axle journal having a collar at one end and a fillet at its other end, a box mounted thereon, an elongated wide, relatively shallow pad-like lubricant distributor applied to the lower portion of the journal, spring structure resting on the bottom wall of the box and thrusting the distributor against the journal,

arms extending longitudinally of the distributor and spaced transversely of the distributor and pivoted intermediate their ends to the distributor and inclined downwardly from their pivots towards each end, a pump at each end of the distributor comprising a collapsible chamber secured at its upper end to the distributor and at its lower end to the adjacent ends of said arms, members slidable on the distributor and lengthwise thereof adjacent to said arms and projecting beyond the ends of the distributor to engage the journal collar and fillet, and elements on said members slidably engaging said arms, there being intake valves in the lower ends of said pumps and outlet valves to said distributor in the upper ends of said pumps.

15. In combination, a railway axle journal having a collar at one end and a fillet at its other end, a box mounted thereon, an elongated wide, relatively shallow pad-like lubricant distributor applied to the lower portion of the journal, with on the box bottom wall and supporting said arms beneath said bearings and adapted to tilt longitudinally of the box with said arms as the journal plays lengthwise in the box.

JAMES J. HENNESSY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,989,417 Hennessy Jan. 29, 1935 2,425,186 Hennessy Aug. 5, 1947 2,437,817 Hennessy Mar. 16, 1948 

